I've got one and I think it is an excellent lens. But it depends on what you use it for. If all your shots are at the 400 end maybe the 400 f5.6 might be a better choice. Like everything else its down to personal preference.

I have used this lens on several days out and personally couldn't get along with the push pull system, so much so that I decided against buying one for myself. The lens itself, the quality, size, weight, IS system etc were beyond question though, so if the zoom system is one you can use happily, then it comes highly recommended and there is very little out there that comes close.

What I am trying to say is, if possible try before you buy as it is a lot of money to spend on a lens that you might not be comfortable with.

I certainly don't have more dust issues with this than with any of my other lenses. I too found the push pull system annoying, until I'd used it for a couple of weeks. Now I quite like it, it's substantially quicker to zoom than my old 50-500mm that had the normal system and that's great when you're having to chage to the two extremes at short notice (I use it a lot when taking shots at sporting events 'cause you can really easily keep rezooming as an athlete runs towards you and get several cracks at it.)

cheers

Dan

__________________A mad keen photographer needs to get out into the world and work and make mistakes. - Sam AbellMy Photos

I have been using the 100/400 for a couple of years now and I have never had a dust problem. At first I was dubious about the zoom but now I actually prefer it. When photographing birds in flight it is easier to locate the bird at 100mm and then quickly zoom to 400 mm. The white tailed eagle pictured below was taken with this zoom lens. I also purchased the 100 mm f5.6 prime lens and it quickly fell into disuse for two reasons: 1. I was missing shots at close range because the closest focusing distance is 11 feet which is not so good for butterflies, dragonflies and the like. The absense of IS meant that my hand held shots were not really any sharper. There is a small difference when the lens is used on a tripod.

i would hopefully have been shooting sport (rallying and cricket) and aircraft aswell as any other moving things!!

i had thought of the 300mm f4L but im not sure i can justify having it aswell as the 70-200 f4L. if i had the 100-400 range i wouldnt need the 70-200mm. there is the 28-300mm f3/5 which would be nice but its a tad more expensive.

Hi Steve, I can only agree with the comments about the 100-400L IS above, I absolutely love mine!.

If you don't think you'll need/want the IS then a lens I'd recommend would be the Sigma 100-300 f/4, add a 1.4x converter and it'll give you all the range you want with great quality to boot, it's a big beast though!. (The "1st watch" pic in my gallery was taken with it)

If however you do think you'd want the IS (I like to shoot handheld so couldn't do without it) then the 100-400L is pretty much the best way to go if you want the extra focal range all in one lens.

p.s. If your ever down round the Bangor way then your very welcome to call in and have a play with mine.

i would hopefully have been shooting sport (rallying and cricket) and aircraft aswell as any other moving things!!

i had thought of the 300mm f4L but im not sure i can justify having it aswell as the 70-200 f4L. if i had the 100-400 range i wouldnt need the 70-200mm. there is the 28-300mm f3/5 which would be nice but its a tad more expensive.

thanks for all the replies!

Steve

I tried my friends 100-400 for motorbikes BSB test day at Cadwell (other thread) binned every shot that i took with the 100-400 with it being dull and raining it could not focus fast enough

I tried my friends 100-400 for motorbikes BSB test day at Cadwell (other thread) binned every shot that i took with the 100-400 with it being dull and raining it could not focus fast enough

It would be nice to have the luxury of the appropriate prime for every situation but most people often have to buy a lens to cover a range and a variety of shoots. If that is the case for Steve then the 100-400 is a good choice.

It would be nice to have the luxury of the appropriate prime for every situation but most people often have to buy a lens to cover a range and a variety of shoots. If that is the case for Steve then the 100-400 is a good choice.

In that case i would go with one of the other recommendations if a zoom is needed Sigma 100-300 seen some fantastic shots with this lens, but with a zoom only the 1.4x gets good results and 400mm is not quite long enough for cricket